Garage Vents: What are They and Why Do You Need Them?

Posted: Wed, Oct 17, 2018

When you need to protect your car against the savage heat of summer or the bitter cold of our Colorado winters, you typically rely on your garage. But this space often becomes more than a place to park your cars. It becomes a storage dump for Christmas decorations, paint, weed killer, pool chemicals, trash bins, and surplus food. It may act as a workshop, craft center, laundry room, or auxiliary kitchen. It can also transform into a dance club for your birthday party.

All these uses are fine but run up against lack of ventilation, which can allow heat and gases to build up to unsafe conditions. A common solution to air out the space is to raise the garage door a few inches. However, that strategy may invite domestic and wild creatures to come in, allow dirt to blow in, and present a temptation to burglars. A more practical long-term solution is to install a garage vent, such as WindeeVent, because it provides the following advantages.

Reduces Heat Extremes

Your garage is typically an uninsulated space that can suffer from too much heat in the summer. Those temperature extremes are not only bad for any chemicals that you keep in the space but can radiate through the common walls to the interior of your home through one or more common walls shared between the garage and your inside rooms. Your air-conditioner then has to work extra hard to cool down your interiors. Adding a garage vent allows heat to escape, cooling the space and minimizing the strain on your climate control system.

Eliminates Odors

Anything from trash bins and surplus foods to automotive fluids and cleaning solutions can produce unpleasant and, sometimes, dangerous odors. The high temperature can increase the deterioration rate of chemicals and force more rusting of chemicals. Adding a WindeeVent improves air circulation and releases the bad aromas out into the open air.

Minimizes Carbon Monoxide Build-Up

Whenever your car engine runs, such as when you want to turn on the air-conditioner or cabin heat before you enter the vehicle, it releases dangerous carbon monoxide into the garage. In an unvented space, this dangerous gas has no place to go but into your home where it can cause health problems. A vent can prevent such potentially lethal build-ups.

Improves Air Quality

Concern over air quality, particularly inside the home, has been growing for years. Even the US Green Building Council has gotten into the act by creating a LEED certification program that recognizes buildings that maximize interior air-quality improvements. Adding WindeeVents to your garage may add certification points under Indoor Environment Quality Credit 2: Increased Ventilation. Please note that the product is not endorsed by any local, state, or government agency.

Want to know more about adding a garage vent? Please contact us at American Garage Door today!